Man attacked his ex-partner and threatened to bite her face off

A father-of-three who punched his ex-partner gave her a black eye and threatened to bite her face off, a court heard.

Andrew Paul Hoyle (40) had also knocked a mug of tea towards Theresa Cummins’s face, almost using it as a weapon in the violence at her home.

Burnley magistrates were told Hoyle and the victim had argued over one of their teenage children and the defendant had become abusive. He hit her in the right eye and asked his victim: “Do you want me to hurt you? I will bite your face off.”

Hoyle, who has a record for violence, but not domestic-related, admitted assault by beating at Burnley, on November 23rd last year. The defendant, of Boundary Street, Burnley, was given a 12-month community order, with a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 40 hours’ unpaid work. He also received a year-long restraining order and must pay £50 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Prosecutor Dominic Howell told the hearing the defendant and victim ended their relationship about five years ago, but he went to her house several times a week to see the children.

Mr Geoff Ireland (defending) said: “There’s an element here of perhaps the defendant not fully accepting what he did.”